Sunday, September 28, 2008

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,Creeps in this petty pace from day to dayTo the last syllable of recorded time,And all our yesterdays have lighted foolsThe way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!Life's but a walking shadow, a poor playerThat struts and frets his hour upon the stageAnd then is heard no more: it is a taleTold by an idiot, full of sound and fury,Signifying nothing.

Friday, September 19, 2008

One of the great things about homeschooling is that you can go on field trips more than once or twice a year. (The last year I was a PS teacher, we were "allowed" two educational field trips, and no "fun" trips).

Today, we went with some other homeschoolers to Balsam Mtn. Preserve to study aquatic life. The kids splashed in the creek and looked for bugs and salamanders and stuff. Kristi wanted me to help her, and let me say -- that water was freakin' cold. My feet are still numb, and the nails on one foot are blue.

Oh, wait a minute, that is nail polish. Nevermind, but it was cold!!! (The other foot is pink, in case you are wondering).

1. Assume good faith. (Lifted directly from dpchallenge.com). Whenever I read something someone has written, I try to remember that I do not have their body language or voice inflections to tell me if it is sarcastic, a joke, or serious. I also try to remember that most people don't set out to deliberately offend me. So, assuming good faith means that I am simply going to give you the benefit of the doubt if you are a complete and total jerk online.

2. If you wouldn't say it to their face, don't say it to your keyboard.People will post much differently online than they would act in "real life." This can be good, but more often than not, it is used for *evil.* When you are posting something, try to remember that the person reading the resultant pixels are someone's daughter/father/grandmother/uncle/best friend (hopefully not all at once).

3. It is JUST the Internet.You don't have to be right. AND, you don't have to prove that you are right. Rather than argue about the semantics of the definition of "is," walk away, hug your kids and cook a pork roast or something. It really isn't worth getting your blood pressure up because someone you have never met disagrees with you.

4. Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold.If you must argue, don't call people (even in broad sweeping brushstrokes) names -- that just makes you look beligerent and unintelligent, know what you are talking about (let google be your friend), and KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP!!!!! And, when it is time to shut up, SHUT UP! If the "discussion" has come to the point where you are calling someone names, or someone is calling you names, you have passed the point of SHUT UP!, and you probably deserve to be jack-slapped.

5. Know to whom you are speaking.What I find hilarious could be mildly (or mostly) offensive or even perverse to others. Keep this in mind. If you are on the recieving end of it, refer to rule number 1.

Monday, September 15, 2008

It was HOT. Very hot. Sweltering, even. From 9:30 to 3:30, I walked up and down the turf shooting. My niece asked me an interesting question tonight. She asked, "Do you still love it, or is it work, yet?"

I would have to say I still love it. There are certain elements that I don't particularly just jump for joy about, but I do enjoy what I do.

Here's some of the shots from the game:

Obligatory Trav (66) shot. :)

Before the game. This one has a bit more post-processing than I would normally do on the football shots.

Trav's team got annihilated, but the other three teams won. It was a big victory, because Asheville traditionally has one of the strongest teams in the league. Beating them always earns respect.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Kristi: God did a good job gluing my head on.Ninaw: What?Kristi: God did a good job of gluing my head on. See (tries to pull head off). It's stuck.Ninaw: That is good. If you didn't have a head, you couldn't eat, or talk or anything.Kristi: Yea, He glued it good.Me: How did he glue it?Kristi: (with that "duh" tone in her voice) a glue stick.Me: Purple?Kristi: maybe, but maybe a white one. It won't come off, see?

And just cause I think he's cute. See all the stuff on his shirt. That's oil. He's trying to figure out why the Jeep doesn't go, anymore. This was just after he took the fuel pump out.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

I'm not a big reader of the LA Times. There are probably numerous reasons, but just suffice it to say, I'm not. Nor, do I frequent their blogs. However, this writing on their website caught my attention.

Headline: Canadian doctor warns Sarah Palin's decision to have Down baby could reduce abortions

Awesome! The premise being that when people see a successful woman/family with a DS baby, they will reconsider before aborting when the test comes back positive for DS.

But, apparently, to this doctor, it is BAD news because it means that fewer families will opt to abort the baby.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Regardless of your opinion of Palin, it does encourage me that someone in a very visible position shows that a person with downs can be loved, is lovable, and plays a valuable role in society.

I'll stop short of drawing a parallel between this Canadian's doctor's views and that of some of the doctor's in Nazi Germany, but the thought did cross my mind.

For decades (at least) pundits have been complaining that European wars and religious strife has been causing untold misery for people. Wouldn't it be ironic if this time all those high-minded scientists did us all in?

I don't know their intentions, motivations, or belief systems, but the brains of those high-minded scientists completely overwhelms and awes me.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

I AM, however, feeling yesterday. Did I mention we went to the NC Mountain State Fair yesterday morning?

I won two red ribbons.

Professional Class -- Black and White Portrait

and Professional Class -- Color Sports/Action

and from the games --

Obligatory Trav shot -- notice he is actually tackling the guy with the ball. THAT was a big deal to him. He got his name called out several times for doing this. :) They got pounded (long, long, long story), but they hung in there and really tried hard.

My nephew, Sawyer. He doesn't get to carry the ball much, so I was excited about getting this shot.

And, I love to watch #17 run. He is just fun to watch.

*quabble -- verb. Worrying about the caloric intake of what you are eating vs. the caloric expenditure of what you are doing. To not quabble would be to not care. :P

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

A while back, I was doing a 100 day challenge to lose weight and get healthier, overall. Not long after that, we had the GREAT SHUFORD SCALE SNAFU.

Needless to say, I was so discouraged, I just quit. Seriously. I still almost cry when I think about it. (Actually, I think I'm just hormonal or something lately. I cry all the time. I was watching a rap video on youtube and cried. I read a letter from an inmate in a "money request" we got from and organization and cried. So, be nice to me, or you may make me cry, as well.)

But, lack of battery juice is no excuse to die early of heart disease, so back at it again.

I was going to start today, by giving up chocolate. Then, Bernard told me he had chosen to stop smoking. So, I decided that since alcohol and smoking were much more destructive and unhealthy than chocolate, I would give them up first. Good idea, don't you think?

So, on day -1 of my 112 day challenge, I am hereby swearing off cigarettes and drinking alcohol. I feel healthier already.

If all goes as planned, on Christmas day, I should weigh anywhere from 32 to 48 pounds less than I do now. (that is 2 - 3 pounds a week for those of you wondering).

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(Just so you know, neither Bernard or I drink alcohol of any kind or smoke anything.)